Why You Should Consider a Coolant Additive for Your Car
If you’re like most drivers, you probably don’t think too much about your car’s coolant. After all, it’s something that just needs to keep the engine from overheating, right? Well, there’s a lot more to coolant than that. If you’re not using a quality coolant additive, you could be doing some serious damage to your car. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of using a coolant additive and explain why it’s such an important part of engine maintenance.
About engine coolant
An engine coolant which is also referred to as antifreeze is a fluid used to help regulate the temperature of your car’s engine. Coolant is typically made from a mixture of water and glycol-based chemicals, and it helps remove excess heat from the engine while also preventing freezing.
What does a coolant do?
Well, it is important to note that a coolant absorbs loads of energy and heat while the car is moving. This heat is then transferred to the engine where it can be used to power the car. However, if there is no coolant in the system, this heat will build up and eventually cause the engine to overheat. According to Christian Brothers Automotive, what the coolant does is transfer it to the radiator where it is cooled down. This process happens over and over again to keep the engine at a safe temperature. It also keeps the water far from during extreme conditions. Additionally, the coolant ensures that the metal parts do not rust and prevents the rubber band from corroding. Additives are chemicals that are added to the coolant to improve its performance. The most common additive is ethylene glycol which is used to prevent the coolant from freezing in winter. Other additives include corrosion inhibitors and dyes.
Why is coolant important?
As we mentioned, coolant helps to keep your engine cool. But it also has other functions. It protects your engine from corrosion, helps to lubricate moving parts, and prevents the formation of scale and deposits. According to GMB, coolant also helps to keep your engine clean by suspending contaminants in the fluid so they can be flushed out during service. Although coolant is mixed with water, the water alone can’t keep the engine cool all through. The heat of the engine would cause the water to boil, and this would lead to engine damage. The coolant contains chemicals that lower the boiling point of water, so it can absorb more heat. The coolant also contains rust inhibitors to help protect your engine from corrosion.
How does coolant work?
Coolant circulates through your engine and absorbs heat. It then carries that heat to the radiator where it’s cooled off and circulated back through the engine again. This process happens over and over to keep your engine at a consistent temperature and prevent it from overheating.
But what happens when the coolant itself starts to break down?
Just like any other fluid in your car, coolant degrades over time. It becomes less effective at performing its job and eventually needs to be replaced. But there are ways to slow down the degradation process and extend the life of your coolant. It is always important to keep a close eye on the status of your coolant. The fresher it is the better.
One of those ways is by using a coolant additive
Coolant additives are designed to replenish the lost chemicals and protect the coolant from further degradation. According to Kostusa, they can also help to improve the performance of the coolant, making it more effective at doing its job. There are several different coolant additives on the market, so it’s important to choose one that is compatible with your car’s coolant system. You should also consider the severity of the problem you’re trying to solve.
Why get the coolant flush?
It does offer numerous benefits to the cooling system of the car. Let us look at some of these benefits;
- To start with, coolant flushes effectively remove scale and rust deposits that build up over time. It is imperative that these deposits are removed as they can significantly reduce the efficiency of the cooling system.
- The new anti-freeze comes with additives that help in lubricating the vehicle’s water pump.
- The additives also help in the prevention of rust build-ups in the radiator and other parts of the cooling system.
- Another significant benefit is that it helps in maintaining the pH levels of the coolant.
- Getting a coolant flush helps clean particles left out by old anti-freeze and also helps in getting the correct coolant-to-water ratio.
- When you get a coolant flush, you are most likely going to receive an inspection of the entire cooling system including the radiator, thermostat as well as all the belts and hoses. This is incredibly beneficial as it can help you catch any issues early on before they cause any serious damage.
- Another benefit is that it prevents the old freeze from getting acidic thus damaging the engine. This is critical as an acidic coolant will eat away at the engine. Additionally, you will also notice an improvement in the performance of your car as well as its fuel economy.
As you can see, there are many benefits to getting a coolant flush. It is important to keep the cooling system of your car in good condition as it plays a vital role in the overall performance of your car. A coolant flush is a simple and effective way to do this. Make sure to get one done at least once a year to keep your car running smoothly.